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Eagles not taking chances as McCoy hurts thumb

The Eagles weren't taking any chances with their star players as they took out running back LeSean McCoy with an injury to his right thumb in the first quarter of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday.

Eagles not taking chances as McCoy hurts thumb

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (left) pushes the ball into the end zone ahead of Pittsburgh’s Cortez Allen (28) and Troy Polamalu for a the first score of the game in the first quarter Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER/THE NEWS JOURNAL)Buy Photo

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles weren't taking any chances with their star players as they took out running back LeSean McCoy with an injury to his right thumb in the first quarter of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday.

They didn't even dress cornerbacks Cary Williams and Brandon Boykin, who sat out with hamstring injuries.

It's not known how McCoy hurt his thumb, and X-rays were negative. But he missed practice Sunday with a left big toe injury before returning to practice Monday. McCoy seemed to be struggling with his toe as he took himself out after a 5-yard loss early in the game.

But McCoy returned on the next series and ran for 13 yards on first down. He capped off the drive with a 22-yard catch and run for a touchdown. He didn't return for the next series. McCoy had 24 yards on four rushes and two receptions for 26 yards.

The Eagles survived another injury scare early in the second quarter when Jeremy Maclin went down after planting his right leg. It appeared as if his right knee buckled. Maclin missed all of last season after tearing the ACL in that knee last summer, and this seemed to be bad as well.

But Maclin eventually got up and walked off. He was looked at on the sideline by a team doctor and returned for the next series. On the first play, he caught a 9-yard pass, got hit and got back up without issue.

As for Williams and Boykin, both sat out with hamstring injuries that were suffered last Friday night against the New England Patriots. Williams left that game in the first quarter after his 77-yard interception return for a touchdown. Boykin left in the second quarter with leg cramps.

Both injuries were considered minor, and both practiced Sunday and Monday during the individual periods, which was the only period the media was allowed to see. The Eagles held a walkthrough practice Tuesday and a light practice Wednesday, both closed to the media.

Williams, in fact, was a late scratch as his absence was announced about 30 minutes before the game.

Nolan Carroll, who played his first game since suffering a groin injury two weeks ago, replaced Williams on the outside and had an interception in the second quarter. Rookie Jaylen Watkins replaced Boykin, who plays the nickel corner. The Eagles have one preseason game left, next Thursday against the Jets.

Typically, the starters sit out that game. If that's the case for Boykin and Williams, that means their preseason game experience will be very limited. Both got a handful of snaps in the first game before leaving with their injuries in the second game.

The Eagles' newest players were both dressed and in uniform Thursday night.

Running back Kenjon Barner was acquired late Tuesday from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick. Kicker Cody Parkey was acquired from Indianapolis on Wednesday in exchange for running back David Fluellen.

Barner came into the game late in the first half to return a punt, which he let roll. Barner's acquisition was to provide depth at both running back and returning kicks. Chris Polk has missed all three preseason games with a hamstring injury. Henry Josey and Matthew Tucker are the other backs vying for a backup role behind LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles.

Parkey, a rookie out of Auburn, is expected to challenge kicker Alex Henery.

Wing tips

Running back Matthew Tucker, who missed last week's game with a hamstring injury, replaced McCoy. He had 15 yards rushing in the first half … Nate Allen started at safety for the third straight game ahead of Earl Wolff, which would indicate that he's probably in line to start the season alongside Malcolm Jenkins … Defensive end Brandon Bair, who was on the practice squad last season, deflected a pass in the first half.